Hi Adam- There is not a huge lake effect here but the winters don't seem any worse than mid-Indiana. The bed has a very minimal slope to the southeast but is against the foundation which offers some protection and it has a thick layer of sand for drainage (with a gravel drainage channel at the drip edge). I have a gradient of plants from the foundation outwards graded by cold and moisture sensitivity (mostly by trial and error). Regards, Phil > From: adam14113@ameritech.net > To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > Date: Mon, 8 Nov 2010 20:16:56 -0600 > Subject: Re: [pbs] Reflectix > > Phil? Your climate is much like mine in Glenview,IL Maybe a tad warmer due > to lake effect and prevaiing winds. Does your soil slope to the SW?. > Better if it does for combined effects of drainage, wind direction, etc. . > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "P. C. Andrews" <pcamusa@hotmail.com> > To: <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> > Sent: Monday, November 08, 2010 6:21 PM > Subject: Re: [pbs] Reflectix > > > > > > Hi All- Thanks for all your comments. In my case I have the sand bed and > > the stone mulch bone dry when I cover it so I am not particularly > > concerned about rot. In fact, dryness seems to be as important as > > insulation. My major concern is keeping snow melt out of the soil with > > the consequent freeze damage in the next temperature drop. > > So I went ahead and picked up a couple of rolls tonight and I'll report on > > performance some time in April. > > Regards, > > Phil > > Southern (tropical) Michigan, zone 5ish. > > > > > >> From: adam14113@ameritech.net > >> To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > >> Date: Mon, 8 Nov 2010 17:55:04 -0600 > >> Subject: Re: [pbs] Reflectix > >> > >> Hello Santoury in Mass. In was talking about growing oncocyclus species > >> and > >> hybrids. (very touchy) as examples of touchy geophytes. the idea was > >> the > >> the method might be extended to others needing to be protected. > >> > >> Sounds as if you missed a posting. Regards, Adam > >> ----- Original Message ----- > >> From: <santoury@aol.com> > >> To: <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> > >> Sent: Monday, November 08, 2010 4:07 PM > >> Subject: Re: [pbs] Reflectix > >> > >> > >> > > >> > I thought we were talking about bubble wrap? Isn't that plastic? Pardon > >> > if > >> > I misunderstood. > >> > The moisture from the rotting leaves is what causes the root rot that > >> > kills them. > >> > Sand actually probably may be part of the problem, since sand is very > >> > compressed, and does not allow for any air circulation. > >> > Maybe it would be helpful to know what kind of plants you're talking > >> > about. > >> > Massachusetts is probably much milder, but it's also very wet in > >> > winter. > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > I don't cover the plants wet. Also, the fact that the styrofoam > >> > panels > >> > are flat allows air circulation under it. Also each plant is covered > >> > with > >> > 2-4" of dry sand.. Massachusetts winters can't be harsher than Chicago > >> > in > >> > terms of degrees below zero > >> > > >> > ----- Original Message ----- From: <santoury@aol.com> > >> > To: <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> > >> > Sent: Monday, November 08, 2010 3:21 PM > >> > Subject: Re: [pbs] Reflectix > >> > > >> >>I did not see the original post - but plastic will rot anything under > >> >>it. > >> >> >People here in Mass. cover lawns with plastic, or even tarps, in > >> >> >order to > >> >> >kill grass, and everything else, to re-seed. > >> >> People here use HAY for protection in winter. It would also be a much > >> >> > > >> >> better insulator than a sheet of plastic. > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> -----Original Message----- > >> >> From: Jtlehmann@aol.com > >> >> To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > >> >> Sent: Mon, Nov 8, 2010 2:25 pm > >> >> Subject: Re: [pbs] Reflectix > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> I realize the interest is covering the entire bed, and not individual > >> >> plants, but as a word of caution: I have known people who used > >> >> regular > > >> >> bubble > >> >> wrap to protect individual tender plants without success; I know of no > >> >> > > >> >> one > >> >> who has used it with success. The plants rot over the winter. > >> >> _______________________________________________ > >> >> pbs mailing list > >> >> pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > >> >> http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > >> >> http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> _______________________________________________ > >> >> pbs mailing list > >> >> pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > >> >> http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > >> >> http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ > >> > _______________________________________________ > >> > pbs mailing list > >> > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > >> > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > >> > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ > >> > > >> > > >> > _______________________________________________ > >> > pbs mailing list > >> > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > >> > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > >> > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> pbs mailing list > >> pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > >> http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > >> http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ > > > > _______________________________________________ > > pbs mailing list > > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/